[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 38948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19019]
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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION
16 CFR Part 1700
Household Products Containing Petroleum Distillates and Other
Hydrocarbons; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Reopening of
Comment Period
AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.
ACTION: Reopening of comment period for advance notice of proposed
rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: There are child-resistant packaging standards in effect under
the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (``PPPA'') for some products that
contain petroleum distillates or other hydrocarbons. In the Federal
Register of February 26, 1997, the Consumer Product Safety Commission
(``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') published an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking (``ANPR'') requesting comments on whether additional
products containing these substances should be subject to child-
resistant packaging standards. 62 FR 8659. At the request of the
Chemical Specialties Manufacturers Association (``CSMA''), the
Commission extended the period for receiving written comments on the
ANPR until July 11, 1997. 62 FR 22897 (April 28, 1997).
As requested by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association
(``CTFA''), the Commission further reopens the comment period until
September 1, 1997.
DATES: Written comments in response to the ANPR must be received by the
Commission by September 1, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Comments, preferably in five copies, should be mailed to the
Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Washington, DC 20207-0001, or delivered to the Office of the Secretary,
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 502, 4330 East-West Highway,
Bethesda, Maryland 20814; telephone (301) 504-0800. Alternatively,
comments may be filed by telefacsimile to (301)504-0127 or by e-mail to
cpsc-os@cpsc.gov. Comments should be captioned ``Comments on ANPR for
Petroleum Distillates.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Barone, Directorate for
Epidemiology and Health Sciences, Consumer Product Safety Commission,
Washington, DC 20207; telephone (301) 504-0477, ext. 1196.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Existing PPPA standards require child-
resistant packaging for some products that contain petroleum
distillates or other hydrocarbons. Aspiration of small amounts of these
chemicals into the lung can cause chemical pneumonia, pulmonary damage,
and death.
In the Federal Register of February 26, 1997, the CPSC published an
ANPR that initiated a rulemaking proceeding to consider whether
additional household products containing petroleum distillates and
other hydrocarbons should be subject to PPPA standards. 62 FR 8659. The
Commission solicited written comments from interested persons
concerning these risks, the regulatory alternatives discussed in the
ANPR, other possible means to address the risks, and the economic
impacts of the various regulatory alternatives. The Commission
originally provided for a 75-day comment period, which would have
expired on May 12, 1997. At the request of the CSMA, the Commission
extended the period for receiving written comments on the ANPR until
July 11, 1997. 62 FR 22897 (April 28, 1997).
By a letter dated July 1, 1997, the CTFA requested a further
extension of the comment period until September 1, 1997. CTFA asserted
that additional time was needed because the ANPR lacked a definition of
``petroleum distillates,'' and there was confusion among CTFA's members
regarding which petroleum distillates would be contained in cosmetic
products, if any. CTFA also has asserted that some of its member
companies have recently become aware that several product categories
not previously contemplated by manufacturers could be affected by the
ANPR. Further, CTFA claimed that because cosmetics are not generally
subject to CPSC's statutes (except the Poison Prevention Packaging
Act), a significant effort was required to educate CTFA's members about
the rulemaking and request for information. CTFA stated that additional
time is required in order to submit accurate, complete, and useful
information to the agency to enable the staff to assess the impact of
the ANPR on the cosmetics industry.
CTFA represents companies that can supply valuable information
concerning the issues identified in the ANPR. Accordingly, the
Commission granted its request for an extension of the comment period,
and reopens the period for submission of written comments to September
1, 1997.
Dated: July 15, 1997.
Sadye E. Dunn,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 97-19019 Filed 7-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355-01-U
